Catamenial pad



Jan. 15, 1952 J. E. MILTON CATAMENIAL PAD Filed Aug. 21, 1950 Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CATAMENIAL PAD Josephine E. Milton, Ferguson, Mo.

Application August 21, 1950, Serial N 0. 180,679

The present invention relates generally to novel improvements in the construction of catamenial pads, or as they are frequently called, sanitary napkins.

More specifically, the invention relates to an improved pad of this type which is constructed entirely of plies of paper the texture of which is very soft, and which requires only a single short line of stitching to maintain the plies in proper assembled relation, both when the pad is in use, and when not in use. It is noted that the paper is also absorbent and thin.

Because of its inexpensive construction, the pad of the invention may be said to be particularly conducive to more frequent changes by the wearer.

Further, because of the soft texture of the material, any discomfort to the wearer is reduced to a minimum, as is understood.

' One feature of the invention is that it provides an easily disposable pad, especially convenient for use by females when travelling. Because of compactness and light weight, a half dozen of the present pads occupy no more space than a single pad of conventional design.

Another feature of the invention is that the pad may be worn without the use of a sanitary belt or similar retaining device, such as required for wear of prior art napkins.

In other words, the present pad is so designed that it is only necessary for briefs, or snug fitting panties to be worn, in order to retain and maintain said pad in proper placement. For this reason, the device is particularly convenient for adolescent girls.

These features are also particularly advan- 5 Claims. (01. 128-290) tageous in the case of retarded or insane women of all ages, since it obviates the necessity of their manipulating belts, safety pins, clasps, and so on.

The pad is also particularly adapted for use in hospitals and the like. For example, following certain surgical operations, its use will minimize discomfort to patients. Similarly, with respect to women during maternity convalescence.

Features and advantages not hereinbefore set forth, will be apparent or specifically pointed out in the description to follow, reference being had also to the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved pad comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof with a flap portion of the pad being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, on a greatly enlarged scale, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. l with portions broken away, and paper thicknesses exaggerated relative to said scale; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1, the scale and the relative paper thickness exaggeration being identical with that of Fig. 4.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 3, the peripheral configuration of the pad there illustrated has been found by numerous tests to be most convenient in use. It is understood however, that viewed in plan, the device may deviate from the configuration shown.

The novel pad is generally designated by numeral it. As previously stated, it is constructed, except for a short line of stitching I2 adjacent one end thereof, entirely of thin paper characterized by softness of texture, and havin absorbent qualities.

Included in the pad are a pair of upper flap portions l4 and I6, and a pair of similar lower flap portions I8 and 20. Each of these flaps is formed from a single sheet folded upon itself as indicated at 22 in Fig. 4.

Thus, the free end of each fiapserves to maintain the two plies constituting such flap in superimposed alignment, as is understood.

Interposed between said upper and said lower pairs of flap portions is a first or upper pad portion 24', a second or intermediate pad portion 26, and a third or lower pad portion 28.

As seen to best advantage in Figs. 3 and 5, the width of these pad portions is reduced relative to that of the flaps M to 20, for reasons believed obvious.

Preferably also, though not necessarily, the length of upper pad portion 24 is reduced relative to that of pad portions 26 and 28, and the length of each of the latter is reduced relative to that of the flaps aforesaid.

As shown in Fig. 5, the upper pad portion 24 is formed from a single sheet also, being first folded upon itself as indicated at 30, and thereafter refolded upon itself as indicated at 32.

The intermediate pad portion 26, and the lower pad portion 28, are also similarly formed, as indicated by the same reference numerals applied to the folded edges.

In this manner, the four plies comprising each of the pad portions are maintained in superimposed alignment relative to one another without requiring any stitching or the like.

The manner in which the device is assembled should be clear from the drawing.

With the nap and pad portions superimposed as shown, the single short line of stitching I2 is applied, this being the sole fastening required to maintain the parts in assembled relation.

From the foregoing, it should be manifest that the invention provides a device which is not only novel and inexpensive, but which has many advantages not found in prior art devices, as has been pointed out. 7

Obviously, the invention may admit of modifications without departure from the spirit thereof. For example, the number of plies may be increased if desired, the contour may be changed, and so on. Therefore I do not desire to be lim ited to the precise details of construction shown, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A catamenial device constructed entirely of superimposed plies of soft absorbent paper material, said device including a pair of upper flap portions, a similar pair of lower flap portions, a plurality of pad portions interposed between said upper and lower flap portions, and a single short line of stitching adjacent one end of the device for securing all of said plies together to form a unitary assembly, each of said upper and said lower flap portions being formed from a single sheet folded upon itself longitudinally of the device, and each of said interposed pad portions i being formed from a single sheet folded and refolded upon itself, transversely of the device.

",2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the length and the width of the interposed pad portions is reduced relative to that of the flap portions.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a disposable sanitary napkin constructed entirely of superimposed plies of very thin absorbent paper of soft texture united at one end by a single short line of stitching, said plies being so folded upon themselves as to inherently maintain them in proper alignment relative to one another, and to provide a plurality of similar upper flap portions, a plurality of similar lower flap portions, and a plurality of pad portions non-coextensive therewith interposed between said upper and said lower flap portions.

4. In a catamenial device constructed ofsuperimposed plies of soft absorbent paper material secured together adjacent one end by a single short line of stitching to form a unitary assembly: a pair of upper flap portions and a similar pair of lower flap portions, each of said flap portions being formed from a single piece of material folded upon itself longitudinally of the device; and a plurality of pad portions interposed between said upper and lower flap portions, each of said pad portions being formed from a single piece of material folded and refolded upon itself transversely of the device, the Width of each pad portion being identical but non-coextensive with that of the flap portions, the length of each pad portion being non-coextensive with that of the flap portions, and the length of the uppermost pad portion being non-coextensive with that of the intermediate and lowermost pad portions.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a disposable sanitary napkin constructed entirely of superimposed plies of a very thin absorbent paper of soft texture united at one end only by a single short line of stitching, said plies including: a plurality of upper flaps each formed from a single piece of said paper folded upon itself longitudinally of the napkin; a plurality of similar lower flaps, said upper and said lower flaps having a peripheral contour suitable for the intended purpose of the napkin; and a plurality of rectangular pads interposed between said plurality of upper and lower flaps, each of said pads being formed from a single piece of said paper folded and refolded upon itself transversely of the napkin, and all of said pads being narrower than, and shorter than said flaps.

JOSEPHINE E. MILTON.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,687,625 Mackenzie Oct. 16, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 196,075 Switzerland May 16, 1938 269,399 Great Britain Apr. .21, 1927 

